Garment support



NOV. 11, 1952 c, w GREGG 2,617,567

GARMENT SUPPORT Filed Dec. 23, 1949 f .5, CARL W. GREGG nvmvrm HUEBNER, EEEHLER WORREL HERZ/G 8 CALDWELL ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 11, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GARMENT SUPPORT Carl W. Gregg, McFarland, Calif. Application December 23, 1949, Serial No. 134,746

Claims.

The present invention relates to holders and more particularly to an improved garment support. Although not limited to such use the present invention is especially adapted to hold trousers, slacks and the like for storing, transporting, and handling with a minimum of wrinklin thereof.

The difiiculties incident to the packing of wearing apparel in suitcases and the like are wellknown to everyone who has been confronted with the problems of transporting such apparel to a destination in freshly pressed condition. Even in wardrobes, fortnighters and other large containers making provision for clothes supporting hangers; suits, trousers, slacks and the like normally require pressing before being worn after having been so packed. In addition to the Wadding of such garments during packing, storing, and transporting, trousers hung on conventional clothes hangers receive transverse creases mid-way of the length of the legs thereof; Such transverse creases are not only objectionable in trousers packed in suit cases and the like but likewise occur in trousers suspended in clothes closets and other places of storage.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved support adapted to hold garments and the like for storing, transporting, and handling with a minimum of disturbance and derangement thereof.

Another object is to provide a garment holder minimizing wrinkling of fabrics and the like held thereby.

Another object is to provide a means particularly adapted to hold trousers and slacks in either suspended or rested condition without disturbing their pressed condition.

Another object is to provide a trouser and slack hanger adapted conveniently to receive and to release the same.

A further object is to provide a device of the character and for the purposes set forth that is readily demountable and compactly stored when not in use.

Still further objects are to provide such a device that is economical to produce, fully effective in use, and readily demountable.

Additional objects and advantages will become apparent in the subsequent description in the specification.

Fig. l is a perspective view of a garment hanger embodying the principles of the present invention showing the parts thereof in operable association and with a garment supported thereon.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the holder and garment of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary axial section of the device of the present invention through cylindrical members employed therein.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a clip shaped end portion of a spacer rod employed releasably to engage the cylindrical members.

Fig. 5 is an axial section of the device of the present invention illustrating the elements thereof in compact association, as for storing.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing:

The garment hanger of the present invention employs an upper hollow cylindrical member I6 and a lower hollow cylindrical member II arranged in parallel relation. The lower cylindrical member is preferably longitudinally slotted,

- as at I2, so as to receive the end of a garment therein to be supported on the holder, as will subsequently be described in greater detail. The lower member I I is preferably of an outside diameter adapted slidably to fit within the upper cylinder II] for compact storage of the device. The members I0 and II are suitably formed of fibreboard, plastic, or other economical material of sufiicient strength to resist crushing thereof under normal compression experienced in suitcases, wardrobes, fortnighters, and the like when packed.

The cylindrical members I0 and I I are releasably maintained to parallel relation by a pair of spacer rods I5 each having a spring clip I6, as shown in detail in Fig. 4, formed at opposite ends thereof. Sixteen gauge Wire preferably galvanized or chromium plated is excellently suited to the purpose. At each end, the wire is. bent at substantially right angles to itself, as at IT. A U-shaped return-bent portion I8 is formed continuous with the right angular portion I1 and is resiliently fitted to the thickness of the cylindrical members I I] and II to clasp the same. The end of the wire is again returnbent; as at I9, continuous with the U-shaped portions I8, to avoid any outwardly disposed end portions that might snag articles supported on the hanger. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the clips releasably engage opposite extremities of the cylindrical members II) and I I by being fitted thereover and thus retain said members in parallel spaced relation. It is to be understood that other types of spacers can be employed releasably to interconnect corresponding ends of the members I0 and II without departing from the spirit or'the scope of the invention. For example, elongated strips of rigid cardboard having transverse slots in their ends may be substituted for the rods in a more economical form of the invention by fitting the slots to the end edges of the members l and II.

For convenience in suspending the holder, a hanger arm 22 is pivotally connected to an end of the upper cylindrical member 10, as at 23, for foldable positioning longitudinally of said member. The arm 22, when in holder suspending position, extends outwardly radially of the member as at 24 and thence angularly outwardly as at 25 terminating in a hook 26 short of the opposite end of the member l0. A second hange arm 28 is similarly pivotally connected to the opposite end portion of the member, as at 29, for similar foldable movement longitudinally of said member. In operable position, the hanger arm 28 extends radially of the member ID, as at 30, thence angularly outwardly, as at 3|, to intersect the hanger arm 22, and is provided with a hook 32 adapted releasably to engage the hanger arm 22 adjacent to the supporting hook 26, as shown in full line in Fig. 1; The hanger arms are adapted to fold inwardly over a garment supported on the upper cylindrical member and to lock the garment thereon, as for packing in a suitcase or the like, by the intertwining of the arms as shown in dashed line in Fig. 1.

Operation To demonstrate the utility of the present invention a pair of trousers 35 having legs 36 terminating in cuffs 31 is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. To mount the trousers on the hanger after the removal of one of the spacer rods, the trousers are held with their legs upwardly extended with the cuffs in intimate engagement. The ends of the legs 36 are slidably received in the slot l2 with the cufis 31 inwardly disposed the lower cylindrical member H for tensioning against the inwardly disposed surface thereof. With proper attention to the arrangement of the creases in the legs 36 the trousers are laid over the upper member H! and subsequently continued around the members [0 and l I, as shown.

If the holder is to be packed within a suitcase or the like or rested on a supporting surface, the hanger arms 22 and 28 are preferably intertwined as shown in Fig. to maintain the trousers 35 in position. To suspend the holder and trousers 35 wrapped thereon, the hanger arms 22 and 28 are angularly outwardly extended, as shown in Fig. l and releasably interconnected, the supporting hook 26 subsequently being hooked over a supporting rod or the like in the usual manner. The hanger arms 22 and 28 are optionally provided and may be omitted without departing from the spirit or the scope of the present invention.

When a garment is arranged on the hanger of the present invention as described, it is not subject to sharp bending and thus avoids the transverse creasing conventionally experienced when garments are dependently supported on clothe-s hangers. It will be apparent that the cylindrical members should be of appreciable diameter and provide externally disposed cylindrical surfaces for trouser or other garment engagement. The cylindrical members should be of a length sufficient to receive trousers, or other garments to be supported, thereon with a minimum of creasing transversely of the members. When the members are of such length and respective diameters are approximately one-fourth such length and should not be less than one-eighth thereof. When the diameters of the cylindrical members approximate that of loosely rolled 4 cloth, no appreciable creasing occurs in garments supported thereon. Such garments are maintained in flat smooth condition while the hanger of the present invention is either suspended on the hook 26, packed in a container such as a suitcase, or laid on any convenient supporting surface. The hanger is economical to produce and effectively achieves the objects of the present invention.

The hanger may be compactly stored by disengaging the spacer rods I5 from the cylindrical members I0 and H, slidably inserting the member H within the member ID, arranging the spacer rods within the member II, and moving the arms to retracted position, as shown in Fig. 5. In so associating the parts of the hanger, the member II is arranged so that its slot l2 receives the end portions of the arms 22 and 28 adjacent their respective pivotal connections 23 and 29.

Although I have herein shown and described my invention in What I have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of my'invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and structures.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A holder, adapted to support trousers and the like having legs terminating in cufis comprising, a. pair of substantially parallel hollow cylindrical members, one thereof being longitudinally slotted and adapted slidably to receive the ends of trouser legs therein, with the cuffs inwardly disposed in said member for tensioning against the inner surface of said member on opposite sides of the slot, a pair of elongated substantially rigid spacers having clips formed at opposite ends thereof releasably engaged with opposite corresponding ends of the cylindrical members, a hanger arm pivotally mounted adjacent an end of one of the cylindrical members for foldable positioning longitudinally of the member and having a hooked extended end portion, and a second hanger arm pivotally mounted adjacent to the opposite end of the same cylindrical member for foldable movement longitudinally of said member and having an extended end portion adapted releasably to engage the hooked end portion of the opposite hanger arm in spaced relation to said arms respective cylindrical member.

2. A holder adapted to support trousers and the like terminating in cuffs comprising a pair of hollow cylindrical members of a predetermined common length and having walls of common thickness, one of the cylindrical members having a slot longitudinally thereof coextensive with the length of the member and adapted to receive trouser legs with the cuffs inwardly disposed in said member for tensioning against the member at opposite sides of the slot, and one of the cylindrical members being slidably fitted to the other cylindrical member fo nested storage; and a pair of elongated wire spacers of lengths substantially equal to the lengths of the cylindrical members each having a substantially straight central portion and clips at opposite ends thereof, the spacers releasably interconnecting the cylinders in parallel spaced relation with the central portion of each spacer extended diametrically transversely of corresponding ends of the cylindrical members with the clips slidably embracing the walls of the members at the sides of the members opposite to their respectively adjacent members with the slot of the slotted member disposed generally toward the opposite member and misaligned from the spacers whereby opposite ends of the slot are open for reception of trouser legs therein.

8. A holder adapted to support trousers and the like terminating in cufis comprising a pair of hollow cylindrical members of a predetermined common length and having walls of common thickness, one of the cylindrical members having a slot longitudinally thereof coextensive with the length of the member and adapted to receive trouser legs with the cuffs inwardly disposed in said member for tensioning against the member at opposite sides of the slot, and one of the cylindrical members being slidably fitted to the other cylindrical member for nested storage; a pair of elongated wire spacers of lengths substantially equal to the lengths of cylindrical members each having a substantially straight central portion and clips at opposite ends thereof, the spacers releasably interconnecting the cylinders in parallel spaced relation with the central portion of each spacer extended diametrically transversely of corresponding ends of the cylindrical members with the clips slidably embracing the walls of the members at the sides of the members opposite to their respectively adjacent members with the slot of the slotted member disposed generally toward the opposite member and misaligned from the spacers whereby opposite ends of the slot are open for reception of trouser legs therein; and a hanger arm pivotally mounted adjacent to an end of one of the cylindrical members for foldable positioning longitudinally of the member and having a hooked extended end portion; and a second hanger arm pivotally mounted adjacent to the opposite end of the same cylindrical member for foldable movement longitudinally of said member and havin an extended end portion adapted releasably to engage the hooked end portion of the opposite hanger arm in spaced relation to said arms respective cylindrical member.

4. A holder, adapted to support trousers and the like terminating in cuffs, comprising a hollow cylindrical member having a slot longitudinally thereof coextensive with the length of the member and adapted to receive trouser legs with the cufi's inwardly disposed in said member for tensioning against the member at opposite sides of the slot; a second hollow cylindrical member having an inside diameter substantially equal to the outside diameter of the slotted member and the members having walls of predetermined thickness; and a pair of elongated wire spacers of equal length each having a substantially straight central portion and opposite ends providing laterally extended portions continuous therewith, return bent portions continuous with the laterally extended portions and in planes individual to their respective laterally extended portions, said planes being normal to the central portions, and second return bent portions continuous with the first said return bent portions laterally extended from the central portions of the spacers in parallel relation to the planes of their adjacent laterally extended portions and return bent portions and spaced from such planes a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the walls of the cylindrical members, the spacers releasably interconnecting the cylinders in parallel spaced relation with the central portion of each spacer extended diametrically transversely of corresponding ends of the cylindrical members and the return bent portions thereof slidably embracing therebetween the walls of the members at the sides of the members opposite to their respectively adjacent members with the slot of the slotted member disposed generally toward the opposite member and misaligned with the spacers whereby opposite ends of the slot are open for reception of trouser legs therein.

5. A holder, adapted to sup-port trousers and the like terminating in cuffs, comprising a hollow cylindrical member having a slot longitudinally thereof coextensive with the length of the member and adapted to receive trouser legs with the cuffs inwardly disposed in said member for tensioning against the member at opposite sides of the slot; a second hollow cylindrical member having an inside diameter substantially equal to the outside diameter of the slotted member and the members having walls of predetermined thickness; a pair of elongated wire spacers of equal length each having a substantially straight central portion and opposite ends providing laterally extended portions continuous therewith, return bent portions continuous with the laterally extended portions and in planes individual to their respective laterally extended portions, said planes being normal to the central portions, and second return bent portions continuous with the first said return bent portions laterally extended from the central portions of the spacers in parallel relation to the planes of their adjacent laterally extended portions and return bent portions and spaced from such planes a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the walls of the cylindrical members, the spacers releasably interconnecting the cylinders in parallel spaced relation with the central portion of each spacer extended diametrically transversely of corresponding ends of the cylindrical members and the return bent portions thereof slidably embracin therebetween the walls of the members at the sides of the members opposite to their respectively adjacent members with the slot of the slotted member disposed generally toward the opposite member and misaligned with the spacers whereby opposite ends of the slot are open for reception of trouser legs therein; and a hanger arm pivotally mounted adjacent an end of one of the cylindrical members for foldable positioning longitudinally of the member and having a hooked extended end portion; and a second hanger arm pivotally mounted adjacent to the opposite end of the same cylindrical member for foldable movement longitudinally of said member and having an extended end portion adapted releasably to engage the hooked end portion of the opposite hanger arm in spaced relation to said arms respective cylindrical member.

CARL W. GREGG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,368,843 Rosenthal Feb. 15, 1921 2,077,251 Moore Apr. 13, 1937 2,109,141 Richter Feb. 22, 1938 2,185,253 Klein Jan. 2, 1940 2,549,588 Fillenbaum Apr. 17, 1951 

